Ever get upset over imagined situations?

Sometimes we can get lured into sinful thinking concerning things that haven't actually happened. I call it "Sinful responses to imaginary situations." I'll share one idea here. But don't limit your understanding of what I am I'm sharing to the specific example below.  But instead ask the Lord how this general principal might apply to a different area of your walk with God.  

Let's say that I have two coworker that have a history of not getting along. One day Bob goes way to far and says some nasty and insulting things to Bill in front of everyone. Now even though Bob and I get along just fine, I could still get drawn into some sinful imaginary thinking. I could think to myself " If Bob ever talks to me that way I say this right back at him. Or if he tries to do such and such then I'll teach him a lesson and do this to him." 

I now am all worked up and ready to respond to something that hasn't even happened. I have been drawn into a "Sinful response to an imaginary situation" My mind now has built up energy that may suddenly and sinfully be released.  I am like a balloon fill with air. With even the slightest prick of a pin I am ready to explode. 

Learn to catch yourself going down imaginary and sinful paths. Make a determined effort that you won't entertain these imaginary thoughts. If it is not real stop it in it's tracks. Don't allow it to grow. Stop thinking on it right away. 

Self talk - A key to being encouraged

The more tools a handyman has in his toolbox results in him being better equipped to get the job done. The more spiritual tools that christians have in their spiritual toolboxes makes them better equipped to work through various problems in this life. 

Self talk - A key to being encouraged

One of these spiritual tools is self talk / self encouragement.  God certainly works through our brothers and sisters in Christ to encourage us. But there are times when no one is available to lift us up. Here is one thing we need to do during those times. We need to strengthen ourselves through self talk. We need to make a conscious effort to remind ourselves of scripture and also of the help that God has given us in the past. We need to use these scriptures and experiences to revive, strengthen, comfort and encourage ourselves in the Lord. Here are several passages that refer to strengthening and comforting ourselves in the Lord. Below I've pasted 1 Samuel 30:1-6 and  Psalm 42:5. Take special note of the Psalmist speaking to himself and encouraging himself in Psalm 42:5

I Samuel 30:1-6

1 Then it happened when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had made a raid on the Negev and on Ziklag, and had overthrown Ziklag and burned it with fire; 2 and they took captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great, without killing anyone, and carried them off and went their way. 3 When David and his men came to the city, behold, it was burned with fire, and their wives and their sons and their daughters had been taken captive. 4 Then David and the people who were with him lifted their voices and wept until there was no strength in them to weep. 5 Now David's two wives had been taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. 6 Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

Psalm 42:5

5 Why are you in despair, O my soul? 

And why have you become disturbed within me? 

Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him 

For the help of His presence.

You may also want to grab your Bible and look up Psalm 119:49-52.

Scripture quotations taken from the "NASB" (www.lockman.org )

Feelings of inferiority and superiority within the Church

Within the body of Christ there are some people with feelings of inferiority. And there are also some people with feelings of superiority. Some feel inferior like they are not even part of the body, or that they are less significant than other members. There are others who feel superior and don't think they even need other members who seem to be weaker. 

One passage of scripture that addresses this issue is 1 Corinthians 12. We can clearly see feelings of inferiority being addresses in verses 14-20. And feelings of superiority is addressed immediately after those verses starting with verse 21. I've put a space in between these verses so it is easier to see.   

14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. 19 If they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now there are many members, but one body. 

21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23 and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, 24 whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, 25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

Scripture quotations taken from the "NASB" (www.lockman.org)

Set aside time for repentance.

Some areas of sin in our lives are easier to conquer that others. For those areas that are more difficult have you ever considered setting aside a block of time devoted to repentance? It is a time where you rid yourself of distractions, pray, and diligently resist that area of sin. Look at your schedule and set aside a specific time for this. Your walk with God will grow faster. Who knows, you might even be met with a blessing too.

Avoiding unnecessary discipline

When a person lacks understanding they are unwilling to draw near to God in obedience. Sadly it takes painful discipline in order to steer them into the right path. (idea from Psalm 32:8-9). So in order to increase our willingness to obey, and thereby reduce our need to be disciplined, we need to seek and pray for increased understanding. Praying for and seeking understanding, among other valuable things, can be found in Proverbs 2.

Psalm 32:8-9

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; 
I will counsel you with My eye upon you. 
9 Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, 
Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, 
Otherwise they will not come near to you.
Scripture quotations taken from the "NASB" (www.lockman.org)

God teaches us to rejoice.

God teaches us that we should rejoice in our work. In Genesis chapter 1 we find that God created the heavens and earth. And during those 6 days God frequently looked at His work and told Himself that it was good. God showed us how He rejoiced in His work so that we too would rejoice by telling ourselves that our labor is good. God has kind intentions towards us. And as a result He teaches us about joyful paths. Another passage that strongly promotes rejoicing in our work is Ecclesiastes 2:24.

24 There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God.

Scripture quotations taken from the "NASB" (www.lockman.org )